Economy

I received emails from the offices of Representative Peter Ujvagi and Senator Mark Wagoner today on the approval from the State Controlling Board. Rep. Ujvagi’s came in first so it is listed first, Senator Wagoner’s follows, while each contains information related to HRC Manor Care, each shares a different second local business. The decision to combine was based on the fact that both releases relate to funds from the State Controlling Board.
Rep. Ujvagi Announces State Approval of Job-Creating Support

This in via email from the office of State Representative Peter Ujvagi:
Rep. Ujvagi Announces State Grant for Port of Toledo
$5 Million for Dredging to Make Port the Largest on the Great Lakes
COLUMBUS – State Representative Peter Ujvagi (D-Toledo) today announced the Port of Toledo will receive a $5 million grant from the Ohio Department of Development.

What’s most surprising is that no one has mentioned this until now, Higher truck fees threaten Toledo port:
ODOT - seeing its gasoline tax revenues declining dramatically as people travel less and drive more fuel-efficient vehicles - has set its sights on large trucks to make up part of the shortfall.

I’ve never understood the reasoning why any public official would put on a fake front about an issue then write public record documents that demonstrate that’s not how they really feel. The Blade article titled, City of Toledo eager to unload Erie Street market shows us that what was happening behind the scenes, is no longer behind the scenes:

Unemployment numbers released for the State of Ohio on Friday for September were 6.9 % (seasonally adjusted to) 7.2% down from August’s of 7.1% (seasonally adjusted to) 7.4% - the County numbers will be released on Tuesday. Unemployment for the nation for September is 6.0% down a slight bit from August’s 6.1% - the seasonally adjusted numbers were both 6.1%.

This story out today - link to text of letter from Gov. Schwarzenegger
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0334646220081003

750 BILLION dollars to save the economy? Here's a novel idea, legalize grass and tax it.Why not? Tobacco taxes rake in about 8 billion a year PER STATE!

The title is a quote from this article in the Toledo Journal about some of the items that will be discussed at the “State of the Black World Conference” that is scheduled to be held in New Orleans after the election in November. I recommend reading the complete article, what I thought was noteworthy is the acknowledgment that even if Obama wins in November, Dr. Ron Daniels said:

This in via email from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Takes Action to Preserve Balanced Budget As National Economy Continues to Negatively Impact Ohio
Columbus, Ohio – As the national economic slowdown continues to deprive Ohio of expected revenues, Governor Ted Strickland today ordered $540 million in budget adjustments in order to make sure Ohio’s budget remains in balance.

A few stories caught my eye that I wanted to point out. First, did you think that with the welcome mat not being out for lobbyists that the Democratic National Convention would be different this time?

While it’s stated in the Blade article that:
Mr. Napoli and Mr. Chema wouldn’t say how much they were asking for naming rights, but because the stadium will be open year-round and will host other events besides sports, they are expecting much more than the $5 million that Fifth Third Bank paid to sponsor the Mud Hens’ home.

The recent drowning death of Shondale Galloway and Shondale Galloway II brought not only sorrow but media attention to the Galloway family. It appears in reading this WTVG story that the Regina Manor Apartment Management discovered that the Galloway family were not the legal residents of the apartment, the apartment was leased in the name of Marquitia Galloway’s sister.

Who’s to blame for things in NWO and Toledo not going the way we believe they should, and who deserves credit for the things that have gone right. That’s the underlying issue hinted at in today’s Blade article, Leaders in Toledo-area pushing forward on economic development.

The cover story of this week’s Toledo Free Press is one that is being experienced by many in this area, they are residents who at one time lived a different life here in Toledo that have now found themselves the “new poor”. The additional article that tells you the story of three Toledo residents that could be multiplied in many parts of NWO.

Sometimes it’s hard to blog about Toledo. I read articles such as this one Toledo City Council not in on $80,000 Erie Street Market revamp and it points out what the problem is in Toledo, clear as a bell. We have NO balance of power, we have no real system in place as a checks and balance.

Back in March we discussed the Do-It-Yourself Pull-A-Part Used Auto Parts decision to try for a second location which ended up not working out. Now it appears they have found another location and at tonight’s neighborhood meeting it appears this third location might be the charm.

This in via email from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop:
Urgent New Direction Needed for Economic Development…LCIC Board President Quits Agency Citing Conflict
Abrupt resignation by Robinson another blow to failed tax payer funded bureaucracy

If you watched Fox Toledo tonight then you saw Shaun Hegarty’s piece on the Marina District, the legislation that Councilman Frank Szollosi presented related to requiring local union work only is going to be referred to the full Council without recommendation, which means Council will not approve it. This quote might have gotten your attention stated by Larry Dillin:

As this Blade article points out it’s not just the actual worker who is temporarily laid off that has an affect on the economy:
Last week, Chrysler LLC announced that it was shutting down the factory making Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro through Aug. 25 at the Toledo Jeep Assembly complex.
The move idled over 2,200 Chrysler workers and will affect thousands of others in local parts manufacturing, analysts said.

Times are tight, fuel prices are up and I think we all can understand that at times when companies consolidate services that jobs can be lost. That said, there is a huge amount of concern that the recent decision by DHL to consolidate services with UPS will eliminate 8,000 jobs directly in Wilmington, Ohio with a total number of up to 30,000 possibly being affected according to this press release from Senator Sherrod Brown.

This in via email from the Ohio Democratic Party:
Toledo Democrats and Labor Leaders to Hold Press Conference on John McCain’s Address to the Economic Club of Canada
Leaders Will Challenge McCain’s Support for the Failed Bush Economic Policies That Have Severely Damaged Toledo’s Economy
WHO:

This in via email from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop:
Konop Urges Colleagues to Vote Yes on Creating Jobs in Lucas County Lucas County Jobs Corps to put people to work at non-profits serving community
Toledo (OH) — Responding to the urgent need for jobs in our community as well as the shortage of workers at non- profits serving Lucas County, Commissioner Ben Konop will today propose a resolution creating Lucas County Jobs Corps. The resolution will be voted on at today’s 9:30 A.M Commissioner’s hearing at One Government Center.

This in via email from the office of Ohio Senator Mark Wagoner:
Wagoner Announces Funding for Small Business Incubators
Columbus – In an effort to provide continued support for small, start-up businesses, State Senator Mark Wagoner (R-Toledo) announced today that the state Controlling Board approved the release of $1 million in Thomas Edison Program grants for two Lucas County partnerships working to assist in the development of new small business ventures.
(more…)

I read the Blade opinion piece, Latta doesn’t understand and I don’t disagree with the Blade editorial staff that Latta should have voted to extend unemployment benefits. This has happened before in the past where the discussion hangs up on extending benefits to parts of the Country that might not be facing the same unemployment situation.

This in via email from the office of Scott A. Ciolek who is the attorney representing the Midwest Retailers Association: